Game apparatus



Feb. 23, 1932. F. o. DEGENHARDT 1,846,415

GAME APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR Patented Feb. 23, 1932 PATENT; OFFICE i y ...rmx ormmnaanr, or BnookLvrLnnwYoan GAME .arrnmrrtrs` l applicati@ nlearecember 1a, 1930. ser1a1'11`vb.5a,oe4. 1

i This invention relates to an improvement in a game apparatus designed particularly for use as a game for playing baseball indoors or in a relatively small space out of adoors, the invention, however, being in no 1 manner'limited to a baseball game `as the `apparatus may be designed for similarly playing football or other well known games. The particular type of game to which the invention relates is shown anddescribed in Letters Patent No. 1,507,343, September 2nd, 1924, and similarly thereto, I preferably employ a baseboard depicting an umpire and catcher representative of the` game employed in this form and which is adapted to be placed and maintained during play in a substantially vertical position against a wall orfence or in any` other desired manner.

An aperture is provided in any suitable portion of the `baseboard so thateach par-I `ticular play as made is designated therein to enable the respective players to record or i keeptlie score applicable to the type of game being played. i

Furthermore, in this form of the invention a ball or similar object is thrown against the baseboard to operate a controlling means,

`which automatically places an indicator in position to be readable through the aforementioned aperture.

ferent type ofplay associated with the same arepositioned on the baseboard.`

It has been found iny the useof theiinven- Patent that in the event the ball or` object thrown by the player strikes a plunger extending through the basehoard indirectly or partially, the same will not have suiicientleni ergy imparted to it to operatethe indicator.

the automatic and positive operation of a separate energized means for movlng the 1n- `indicator to an invisible A plurality `of such controlling mechanisms each having a :dif-

tion described in the aforementioned Letters scribed.

ball or obj ect thrown against the boardby the player is sensitively adj usted `to facilitate dicator to a visible position. 1 Y 1 A further object is to provide a mechanism whereby theplayer may readily return the position after the play has been recorded.` v i Other objects, advantages and 4.novel-'features of design, construction and arrangement will be hereinafter apparent by reference to the accompanying drawingsfin which Figure l is a front elevation ofthe improved game apparatus. i 1 n y Fig. 2 isan enlarged perspective view of one of the control mechanisms `associated therewith, and n Fig.:3 is a rear elevation of the supporting plate showing the association of the various units mounted thereon.

Referring tothe drawings, and more ar-` ticularly to Figure 1, the embodiment o the invention herein disclosed is incorporatedin abaseboard 10 of a preferably rectangular shape and upon the surface of Which is a representation of-a catcher 11 and an umpire 12.

Thebaseboard in playing the game.A may be `suitably placed `in a substantially vertical position against a Wall when the ame is played indoors or` maintained in a li (e position against a` fence, or otherwisenvhen the `gameisfpla ed out of doors. An. aperture or opening 3 is provided inthe upper por- -tion rof the baseboard 10 and preferably in a position indicating the mouthofthe umpire 12 atlwhich pointa plurality of "individually loperable indicatorsare visible to designate a particular play asthe same cis made. Suitably` secured to therear ofthe baseboard 10 is a plate 14 upon which aiplurality of individual controlling mechanisms are utilized as will be hereinafter more particularly de- The plate 14 has a pluralityiof` openings therein, each of which is in alignment Vwith an opening in the baseboard 10 to accommodate a like number of plungers 15VV passing thi-rough the same. lThe forward Iend of each plunger has a button 16 which projects outwardly fromthe baseboard 10 and is adapted to be struck by the ball or other object thrown bythe participants in the game. f1 Each button is associated Vwith a given type of play applicable to the kind :of ygame ,to which the invention is designed to illustrate. Inasmuch as each of the controlling Vmechanisms is --es sentially identical but one of thev same Will be described in detail.

Referring particularly to Fig. v2, an arm 17 connected to the plunger 15 pivotally maintains thev same las Aindicated Iat =18to a supporting'bracket 19 Afastenedlto the rear'of'the plate 14 in any suitable manner. Energized means yieldingly associated with tbe plunger, and herein illustrated Ainthei'or'm"ot-a leaf spring 20, is connected tothezpilatelllV and is adapted. to normally maintain "the plunger 15 so that the -buttonlisfinvan extending position from the baseboard 10 to y be :struck by 'the Aball f-i'n playin-g"E the game. flhe'sidefsurface ofthe armlT presses against the*surfaeeof the ff plate f14 to determine the maximum forward position finY which the :spring -20 maintains the` plunger. 1The brack- A-'et191alsoiincludesa lug`v 21 'for limiting the backward-pivotal movement of the' arm17 and" which fis-adapted' to 'formiI a Jstop so' that faf direct strike of the ball upon' thef'loutton 16 willnot move the plunger'-151suiciently -to jinjure thespring 20. f

*Afcatch for dog 22 isv alsoconnected to the yieldable plunger 15, the purposevotwhich "vvilhY be hereinafter more ifparti'cularly described. Operatively associ-atedwith reach mechanism is Ean integralfrod 23 which is; pivotally fmounted on la suitable' supporti-24extending from the VA'baseboard 10. Theupperjportion 5 35 Soffvthefrod carries an indicator l25 which is I normally maintained infan 'finvisiblei position l behind the' board. -Intlie operation ofthe 'paiticular mechanism associated`- with 'a1-'given Y- 1l indicator the same is moved-toa` position ito be 4() of the umpire'as indicated Vat 26.

visible through' the opening v13ra't the mouth Thel loweror opposite; portion ofthe rod 23 extends downwardly adjacentl to:` the "plunger-'land is Eadapted 'tobe normally I maintained inv` this position'rbyl-theV catch or -dog22 controlled 'by the spring 20. `A -sec-Y i:ond energized means,- illustrated in the` form Y :of aspring.27, is connected to the llower portion of the rodfand the basebovard injany desired mannerr so that the'sameis 'operatively associated "with 'said' rodi toA swing lthe indi-1 cator toav visible posltioirwhen the' plunger 15 'is actuated to release theengagementbe'- tween the rod and catch as indicated: by the dotted lines infFig'. 2. In this mannerasensitive mechanism-is Vprovided -which .insuresv the movement of the indicator to a visible* position'regardless of the=ma'n'1'1'er 4invvhich.; the

ball'or other object'strikes theibuttonl.

Therelationship rof theilindividual mechanisms'as positioned on-lthe' rear of the vplate l"14 lis V"clle'arlyillustrated fin Fig? 3. VSuitable guideslare provided in the'upp'erfportion' of l the plate asindicatedSat128` to 'control' 'the -mvement'ofthe rods23 therein. A' centrally located stop 29 limits the movement of the rods 23 when actuated by the spring 27 so that the indicator 25 is Visible through the opening or slit 13 in the baseboard. A rod 30 is pivotally connected to the end of the lower portion of the rod 23 as indicated at 31 and is sli-dingly maintainedzin a-bracket-32 or other l fsuit'able means locatedonthe rear edge of the :34. iBymanuallyzpullingatlrefrod() olitnuardlf dy' therodI-,23 isreturned to its ,normal vposi- .tion 'adJaeent 'ttlre plunger .-155 arid .secured ithereby rby `the `fcatch 22 itoautomatieal-ly withdnawthelindicatonfromits visiblerpositien. Y

v In...playin'gsthe gamerjanyinumbereoflparticipants "can abe :accommodated sin groupings off individual-slorteams as:desired',rteach :player` 'in' E.turn .being permitted to "throw a .predetemnined number Vofwballsaat the; base'-4 :board 2.10 with-'the .purposef of: operatingithe Y iplungerfthatiwill; facilitate .the setting .ofthe .l indicatoraliaving.the :mosttadvantageousplay itilfrere'oni inva f-visi'bl'ezzpositi'on. Theislightest energy imparted: tortheafkxutton-16j Willjpivot l thezplfunger 1'5 against theizictionothe spring `120 sothatsthe dog orfcatch22;r eleasestheprdf1 which ris separately actuated-.by meansof 'ethefspring 27 -1 to unove the indio atortoza visiffble positionato the: xrear .ofi the'` opendnglS in Vthe mouth of the umpire. Aftenthegplay indicated lhasfbeen reconded-theknobzv; clos-A -lfestto .the'baseboard 102 is 'manually-.pulled to y .returm thexindicatorato an: invisible'. position vafteri resumed.

2 andset the mechz'misms` so that. playzcairtherezThe particular type;'ofrplays applicabletto" fthes gamenllustratedninl.thislinstancetf relates i toi baseball, wlthoughiobviouslyfother i games may be utiilizedforp'lay in thesamemanner fthe n'aturefandf spirit Hv'itheut departing from' ifthe'inventionx' fr iI"claim*as'uny inv'entioni Lina,gameapparatusfa baseboard, a plunger "eXteii'din'gthrfoug-lr 'the same, anin- A"dieator ro d tol whichati one end theindicator" is attachedfa 'support exteiidingiirom saidbaseboard'and to wliich'lthe 'rod isn'piv- .jotallly .connected-to swing the'in:dicator"'i1om .an .invlslble tor a visible. position, -means-ast-sociatedwith .said plunger. .to .yieldinglyq en- A gage-ap ortionrofzthefopposite end-fofsaidi'od :fand-,to normally rmaintainathe indicator. in

'an :invisibleposition; energizedfmeanssesso- ,f ciatednwithv the lastsnarnedgpontionfofmsaid rod whereby on thereleuseofysaidfirst-*namedy means the same is pivoted to swing the indicator to a visible position.

2. In a game apparatus, a baseboard, a plunger extending through the same, an indicator, a rod to which at one end the indicator is attached, a support extending from said baseboard and to which the rod is pivotally connected to swing the indicator from an invisible to a visible position, a catch associated with said plunger to yieldingly engage a portion oi the opposite end of said rod and to normally maintain the indicator in an invisible position, energized means associated with said last named portion oi said rod whereby on the release of said catch the same is pivoted to swing the indicator to a visible position.

3. In a game apparatus, a baseboard, a plunger extending through the same, an indicator, a rod to which at one end the indicator is attached, a support extending from said baseboard and to which the rod is pivotally connected to swing the indicator from an invisible to a visible position, means associated with said plunger to yieldingly en gage a portion of the opposite end of said rod and to normally maintain the indicator in an invisible position, energized means associated with the last named portion of said rod whereby on the release of said first named means the same is pivotedto swing the indicator to a visible position, and means asso ciated with said rod whereby the same is manually returnable to its normal position.

4. In a game apparatus, a baseboard, a plunger extending through the same, an `indicator, a rod to which at one end the indicator is attached, a support extending from said baseboard and to which the rod is pivotally connected to swing the indicator from an invisible to a visible position, a catch associated with said plunger to yieldingly engage a portion of the opposite end of said rod and to normally maintain the indicator in an invisible position, energized means associated with said last named portion oi said rod whereby on the release of said catch the same is pivoted to swing the indicator to a visible position, means pivotally connected to the end of said rod whereby the same is manually returnable to its normal position.

5. In a game apparatus, a baseboard, a plunger extending through the baseboard and pivotally associated therewith, a catch located on said plunger, an indicator, a rod to which at one end the indicator is attached, a support extending from the baseboard and to which the said rod is pivotally connected to swing the indicator from an invisible to a visible position, energized means associated with the plunger to normally maintain said catch in engagement with a portion of the opposite end of said rod thereby holding the indicator in an invisible position.

6. In a game apparatus, a baseboard, a

plunger extending through the baseboard and pivotally mounted thereon, a catch located on said plunger, an indicator, a rod to which at one end the indicator is attached, a support extending from the baseboard and to which the said rod is ivotally connected to swing the indicator roman invisible to visible position, energized means associated with the plunger to normally maintain said catch in engagement with a portion of the opposite end of said rod thereby holding the indicator in an invisible position, and a stop associated with said pivotal plunger for limiting the movement of the same.

7. In a game apparatus, a baseboard representing a player and having an aperture therein, a plunger extending through the baseboard and pivotally mounted thereon, a catch located on said plunger, an indicator, a rod to which at one end the indicator is attached, a support extending from thebaseboard and to which the said rod is pivotally connected to swing the indicator from an invisible to a visible position behind the aperture, energized means yieldingly associated with said plunger to normally maintain said catch in engagement with a portion of the opposite end of said rod thereby holding the indicator in an invisible position, energized means operatively associated withV said rod to swing the indicator to a visible position behind the aperture when the said plunger is actuated to release the engagement between the said rod and catch.

8. In a game apparatus, a baseboard representing a player and having an aperture therein, a plunger extending through the baseboard and pivotally mounted thereon,`a i

catch located on said plunger, an indicator, a rod to which at one end the indicator is attached, a support extending from the baseboard and to which the said rod is pivotally connected to swing the indicator from an invisible to a visible position behind the aperture, energized means yieldingly associated with said plunger to normally maintain Said catch in engagement with a portion of the opposite end of said rod thereby holding the indicator in an invisible position, energized means operatively associated with said rod to swing the indicator to a visible position behind the aperture when the said plunger is actuated to release the engagement between the said rod and catch, and means pivotally connected to the end of said rod whereby the indicator is manually returnable to its normal invisible position.

Signed by me this 9th day of December,

FRANK O. DEGrENHARDT.V 

